Running and Beer Tasting in SoCal

by MealsAndMiles on December 9, 2013

Greetings from San Diego!

Technically I’m just north of San Diego in North County, but it’s just as beautiful. It’s also deceivingly cold. I think Southern Californians hate the cold as much as Floridians do. It dips below 50 and we all freak out. I’ve seen folks wrapped in scarves and in thick winter hats, just as I would in Florida with these temperatures.

It was 36 when I left for my run this morning. Brrr.. it gave me a chance to wear my new Brooks running gloves (yes they were needed to keep this Florida girl’s hands warm)

They even had so special finger tips so I didn’t have to take the gloves off to take photos -brilliant.

And, yes, I had a lot to take photos of. I mapped out a perfect 5k route from my hotel that took me right by the water and on the beach.

Can you see the surfers? Nutsos!

The run was beautiful and exactly what I needed. I didn’t have a chance to run Saturday and Sunday and I was itching to get out there. Sometimes you just need to run, right?

After we finished work yesterday, a group of us headed to Stone Brewing Co for the tour.

The tour was a pretty good deal. For $3 you get a tour of the brewing facilities, a sample glass to keep, and 4 sample pours of their popular brews.

Our tour guide was great. He walked us through the brewing process and encouraged us all to try home brewing. He also mentioned it was our right as human beings to try as many beers as possible. I like that theory, I love sampling craft beers and rarely stick to the same beer when I’m given unlimited options.

At the end of the tour we sampled the Stone Pale Ale, Stone IPA, Arrogant Bastard, and Double Bastard.

I really enjoyed the Double Bastard, which is a limited release brew with an 11.7% alcohol content. It was a lot smoother than I was expecting and had a very subtle richness to it.

If you’re ever in Escondido, I highly recommend visiting. The grounds were also gorgeous and the food was amazing. I’m still dreaming of the pancetta roasted brussels sprouts I had – amazing!

Word cannot describe my jealousy of your trip to Stone Brewery! They are one of my faves, particularly their “Enjoy By” IPA! I don’t know which pics were more gorgeous….. The views of the run or the beer!! 🙂

I recently did a tour of the Coors brewery — I’m not a huge Coors drinker, so I thought it would be so-so. But actually, it rocked! It’s a really cool company that specializes in as many microbrews as they do big-time Coors Light etc.mary @ minutes per mile recently posted..cold run & hot soup

Hope you are enjoying your travels on the West Coast! I live in Bend, Oregon, where there are more breweries per capita than any other city in the country. Brewery tours and tastings are a way of life here (it’s crazy)! My favorite is the Deschutes Brewery – amazing beer!Kristen @ glitteranddust recently posted..“Tree” Degrees Outside

I miss beer! (gluten free now) That sounds like a blast. We went to the Harpoon Brewery recently for my husband’s birthday, he got a beer flight and a chocolate/coffee beer that smelled absolutely amazing. I got a cider, which was a nice consolation prize 😉

I am not a big beer fan, but I would love to go on a brewery tour! I have never been on one. Good and warm gloves are hard to find! It gets in the teens and single digits here and normal gloves just don’t cut it! Even the ones that are made for running just don’t seem to keep my hands warm, and I have learned as soon as my hands get cold I get miserable!Sara @ LovingOnTheRun recently posted..Motivation Monday Part 2

What a gorgeous run! I love going on brewery tours. Every time Mark and I head to a city we always make sure to check out the local breweries. Our favorite in Chicago was Goose Island. Have you been to Cigar City Beer tour in Tampa yet? So fun check it out if you haven’t had a chance yet!Amanda Elizabeth recently posted..Music Monday-Running and Spinning Playlist

I hate beer but I still love Stone! Their food and atmosphere are both great. I love how deceiving the location is- the first time went I was sure I was lost. It’s supposed to heat up a tad in SoCal this week if you’re still here!

Oh, jealous! Stone is great. My favorite brewery tour I’ve been on was at New Belgium, but that is probably because we knew the employee so it was a little extra. Have fun in SoCal!EB @ Running on E recently posted..The History of my Bloody Feet

That looks like so much fun! I went on a tour of the SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta but it was so crowded it took away from the experience. Our guide was funny and full of knowledge, but you could only hear him part of the time.

What beautiful photos! I wish I was freezing at 40 degrees! We have 20’s right now! And I have never been on a tour but my husband has been dying to go on one at our local brewery so after law finals we are going!Elizabeth @ Positive Change recently posted..Five Quick Facts: V

Sounds so fun! I’ve toured Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, and it was AWESOME! The men and women who work there are so passionate about craft beer, and the newly renovated facility was really cool to see.

I love touring breweries and wineries! We make our own wine and my fiance was just given a beer brew kit so we are basically one step away from offering our own tours 😉Runner Girl Eats recently posted..There were runs.

It’s so nice to read a blog where you’re not giving us So Cal residents a hard time about our winters and how much we bundle up! This weather right now is unusually cold, not only for this time of year but for Southern California in general. I feel bad you haven’t been able to enjoy our regular weather – super hot temperatures for the Disney Half Marathon, and now super cold (by our standards) temperatures for this trip. You’ll have to come out again! 😉

We went to San Diego last summer for my cousins wedding – we probably would’ve gone to Stone had we known or had time! If you get a chance while you’re there, check out Carl Strauss brewing, really great beer! I LOVE factory tours, but breweries are by far my favorite! Thankfully I live in a place where brewery tours are plentiful!Kristen @ The Concrete Runner recently posted..weekend running

Love Stone! I’ve been there quite a few times. There are also some awesome breweries in Temecula if you get the chance. But my heart is in the wine industry 😉 Hope you get the chance to visit Temecula wine country while you’re here! If you do, let me know as I work at one of the wineries 🙂

I’ve been to tons of breweries around New England, but Brooklyn Brewery was probably my top fav! You don’t even walk much but the stories are amazing (gangsters in the old days, etc)!Stacey recently posted..ENERGYbits

The Brooks running gloves are on my Christmas list! I love the idea of being able to change the music on my phone without de-gloving. Sounds like you are making the most of your work trip!Kelly @ Live Green Chic recently posted..Florida State Parks – Silver Springs State Park

Eek! I currently live in the deep South, but I graduated from Cal State San Marcos which is right up the street from Stone. They were super small then (10 yrs ago?) But they taught me to really love good beer! Thanks for the trip down memory lane with the running scenery too! I hope to be back there permanently someday! 🙂

LOVE Stone. And you’re totally right — I moved back to CA from D.C. this past summer, but yet I find myself freaking out when I realize it’s 40 degrees and I want to run outside before work. 😉 Totally lost my edge.

ps. If you’re still in the area and want to run together tomorrow, let me know! I live in SD.joelle (on a pink typewriter) recently posted..Running With Lead Legs

love san diego. 🙂 I lived there for college and it was a fun several years. Stone Brew is really damn good. if you ever make it to Nor Cal, check out Lagunitas. they’re pretty good too 🙂 not as big as Stone, but good.sonia the mexigarian recently posted..Race Recap: California International Marathon

There’s so much to love in this post! I love brewery tours, and those beers sound tasty. As far as the cold run, a few of those wouldn’t be so bad.meghan @ little girl in the big world recently posted..Team Rev3 Announcement!

Yay for STONE!!! I’m in LA, and we’ve been planning on making a trip to the Stone Brewery and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

We’re lucky enough to have a Stone Company Store in Pasadena close to our house. They have all the latest Stone brews, glassware, clothes, books, other merch, and kegs. You can get growlers filled with beer to take home too!

I love their smoked porter, the oaked AB, and the wootstout! Glad you guys had a great time.Mahealani @ Spending Time With Salad recently posted..Pro 2: Class 7 – Menu Development